Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" first appeared in 1836 in the journal the Token. It was published anonymously, along with several other tales that Hawthorne had submitted. These tales met with critical acclaim, and their anonymous author, writing of unique American experiences, was praised as a genius. In 1837 "The Minister's Black Veil" was included in Twice Told Tales, a collection of short stories published under Hawthorne's own name.